U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno has warned Cincinnati officials that the city could lose federal funding if it does not reverse an ordinance creating a new Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement, according to a letter the senator sent to Mayor Aftab Pureval.
What Moreno is demanding
Moreno’s letter, circulated publicly this week, asks that the city halt implementation of the ordinance that city council approved on June 10. The ordinance united functions previously handled by the Department of Economic Inclusion and the Division of Purchasing into a single municipal department.
"Taxpayers should never foot the bill for woke DEI policies or initiatives,"
In the letter, Moreno also wrote the measure "expands an already bloated DEI bureaucracy at City Hall and creates a new office that will likely subject all of the City of Cincinnati's contracts to a DEI analysis." He referenced a March 26, 2026, executive order by President Donald Trump that addressed diversity, equity and inclusion requirements for federal contractors and urged the city to ensure local rules do not conflict with federal guidance.
City goals and context
The city’s recommended operating budget for 2026-27 describes the department’s mission as ensuring "economic opportunity and inclusion for all citizens seeking to do business with the City of Cincinnati" and functioning as a catalyst for growth of minority- and women-owned businesses throughout the region. The budget document says the new department would work alongside the Director's Office and handle contract compliance.
- Ordinance passed: June 10, unanimously by Cincinnati City Council.
- Senator's action: Letter to Mayor Pureval warning of potential federal funding consequences.
- City aim: Centralize procurement and inclusion functions to promote minority- and women-owned business growth.
Stakes for Cincinnati and Ohio
The dispute touches on two immediate stakes for Cincinnati and Hamilton County. First, federal grants and program dollars are a major revenue source for local infrastructure, public safety, and social services; any real or perceived threat to that funding draws swift attention from city leaders. Second, procurement and inclusion policies affect which businesses can compete for municipal contracts and could reshape economic opportunities for minority- and women-owned firms across the metro area.
Moreno framed the issue as a matter of stewardship of taxpayer money, saying Ohioans deserve to know that contracts are awarded on merit and not race or ethnicity. The mayor’s office has not publicly released a detailed response to the senator’s letter as of the latest reports.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ordinance approval | June 10, unanimous vote |
| New entity | Department of Economic Inclusion and Procurement |
| Senator | Bernie Moreno (R-OH) |
City officials will now face decisions about how to balance federal compliance, legal risk and municipal priorities. Cincinnati’s approach could influence other Ohio cities that have pursued centralized DEI and procurement reforms, and may prompt legal or administrative review if federal agencies determine a conflict with grant conditions or federal contracting rules.
For residents, the outcome will affect who is eligible for city contracts and how the city manages scarce public dollars. The next steps will likely include responses from Mayor Pureval’s office, further scrutiny from federal or state agencies, and potential legal consultation as Cincinnati determines whether to keep, amend or pause the new department's operations.
